Fusible cut-out



(NoModhel.)

' C. G. PERKINS.

FUSIBLE GUT-OUT.

Nm3-61,713. Patented Apr. 26, 1887.

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CHARLES G. PERKINS, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

FUSIBLE. CUT-OUT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 361,713, dated April 26, 1887.

Application tiled September 18, 1886. Serial No. 213,903. (No model.)

To alll whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GHARLEs G. PERKINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fusible CutOuts for Electric-Light Circuits; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to cut-outs for electric circuits, and especially to cut-outs which are designed to be used in electric-light circuits. Such cut-outs are usually secured to tables or brackets or to the walls of buildings, and when locatedin factories or other similar structures, or on railway-trains, the movable parts are extremely liable to be displaced by the jarring of machinery or of a train in motion. Ithas been found to be a matter of serious difficulty,

requiring constant oversight and attention, to

prevent cut-outs located in such places from becoming inoperative for the reasons stated.

The special object of my invention is to provide a cut-out for electric lights with means for holding it firmly in place when the electrical connections have been made. Besides this, my invention has other advantages,which will be fully described hereinafter, and more particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification, Figure l represents a plan of a double cut-out constructed according to the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through line 2 2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is an elevation of my cut-out plug in position and a section of the base; the section being taken through line 8 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a plan of my plug with its cap removed, showing a fusible strip which forms the main operative part of my cut-out; and Fig. 5 is a sectional view illustratinga modification of my invention.

Referring to the drawings by letter, A is a base or support fr my electrical cut-out. The base will be made of wood, paper fiber, glass, or any other good insulating material. In the base A are grooves a a, leading from either side to enlarged circular openings b b, wit-hin which are secured binding-posts or screws c c.

The openings b I) are likewise connected by grooves with larger circular openings, d d, which form sockets for safety-plugs, such as are well known in cut-out apparatus. From each bindingpost c a fiat metallic piece -or plate, e, extends into one of the sockets d. These plates, usually of brass, are secured in the bottomot the grooves and sockets by screws f f, in addition to the binding-screws c c themselves. At either side of the sockets d d,

near where the grooves (La entenare shallower groovesfg g, within which are secured brass plates h h.

The above parts constitute that portion of the cut-outto which the safety-plug is applied.

The safety-plug itself consists of a block, I, of paper liber or other good insulating material, a cap, l', connecting-postsjj, and a fusible strip, k. The cap is secured to the block I in such a manner as to leavea space above the latter. The connectingpostsj j pass through the block I and project slightly at the top and bottom. They are formed at the top into screw-posts, and to their upper or outer ends are secured the ends of a fusible strip, la. The posts are also screw-threaded outwardly, and rings or washers Z Z are screwed upon them. The latter rest in openings m m in the block l, and serve as a means for adjusting longitudinally their position.

Each post j is enlarged at its lower end, as is also the groove in which the said post lies. The enlargement forms a shoulder, on which rests the end of a spring, o, the other end of the said spring pressing against the upper or outer end of the enlarged groove or chamber. The posts j 7' are located near opposite sides of the block I, in such position as to make contact each with one of the plates e within one of 9o that by pressing down on the block or plug I against the force of the springs oo it can then be turned until the pins strike against shoulders on the base A,or rather against the ends of grooves cut in the base A, under the plates h h. Above the points where the pins are stopped bythe ends of the groove the plates h 7L are notched on the under side. The pins are forced into these notches by the springs o o, thus holding the plug positively in place, and at the same time furnishing a spring contact between the ends ofthe post and the plates e e.

rlhe fusible strip k is cutaway near the middle,whereby its point of fusion is predetermined. Beneath the cut-away portion I form a groove or depression, p, to catch the molten metal when fusion takes place. For convenience, I form such depressions at both sides of the block, so that a strip can be inserted in place from either side, as may be handiest.

In the description I have assumed that the cut-out is placed horizontally with the plug or plugs uppermost. The ad vantages of my construction ofcut-out would beequallygreat,and, perhaps, greater, if the cut-out were secured to a vertical wall or to the bottom of any support, as to a ceiling. o* r are the screws by which it is secured to any support.

By my construction the plug of my cut-out is held in place by positive means, consisting, in the form shown, of spring-power. In the modification shown in Fig. 5, the springs are flat copper springs t t, secured to the bindingscrews c c and forming the electrical contacts for the posts jj.

Owing to the pinsi ,the plug cannot be inserted in the socket except when it is in such position as to make contact between the terminal plates within the socket and the connecting-posts which pass through the plugs. This makes it certain that the electrical connections will be complete as soon as the plug is in place.

It is of course understood that the bindingposts c c are for the connection of electriclight wires, and that the circuit passes on from any given post through one of the plates e e, one of the connecting-posts j j, the fusible strip 7s, the other connecting-post j, and the other plate e to another binding-post c.

Having now described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In an electric cut-out, the combination of aA CHARLES G. PERKINS.

Vitiiesses:

WILL-ini) EDDY, EBEN E. SMrri-r. 

